Team Malaysia

Friday, November 22, 2013

Heads will roll at FAM

Police standing by as the disgruntled fans are advised to disperse after Malaysia's defeat to Qatar on Nov 19, 2013.

PETALING JAYA: The FA of Malaysia (FAM) will make some crucial decisions on Sunday.
Some say heads will roll.

FAM secretary general Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said major decisions will be taken but refused to elaborate.

“We will deliberate on several major issues, including the crowd
disturbance in Shah Alam on Tuesday and other current matters,” said
Hamidin on Thursday.

The FAM top brass led by president Sultan Ahmad Shah will deliberate several critical issues ahead of the new year.

Top of the agenda will be the fate of national coach Datuk K. Rajagopal whose contract expires at the end of next month.

Then, they have to answer the criticisms hurled at them led by Youth
and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, National Sports Council (NSC)
director general Datuk Zolkples Embong and the fans at large.

On Tuesday, a group of disgruntled fans vented their discontent,
calling for a change in the FAM hierarchy following the national team’s
1-0 defeat to Qatar in their penultimate Group D fixture in the 2015
Asian Cup qualifying campaign. The defeat reduced Malaysia to only a
mathematical chance of qualifying to the Asian Cup Finals as they need
to finish the best third-placed team and they only have one more match
to play. Malaysia’s last qualifying match is against bottom side Yemen
on March 5, 2014.

Among the other issues expected to be discussed are FAM’s ticketing
methods following reports of fake tickets discovered during the Malaysia
Cup final between Kelantan and Pahang at the Shah Alam Stadium on Nov
3.

FAM are also expected to deliberate the request of Kelantan FA (Kafa)
to increase the foreign player quota from three to four next season.
The Red Warriors feel that they would be playing with a disadvantage in
the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Cup. AFC competition rules allow a
team to field four foreigners, including one Asian.